It wasn't a long walk back to Ashwood Mansion, the pack home barely five minutes from the festival grounds. However, it was proving to be a longer trek since Ivory detoured deeper into the grove of forest trees that surrounded them. She was making random turns left and right through the never ending grove, all the while, she was stomping her feet and huffing about how unfair her father was being towards her. Even under the cover of darkness, Maki could make out every sporadic movement her best friend was making. 

"Come on, your father is only looking out for your well being. Don't take it so hard." 

Ivory huffed as she stopped storming around the forest floor and whipped around to face Maki. Even in the darkness, Ivory's silver eyes seemed to glow within the darkness. If it wasn't for her stopping, forcing maki to stop as well, her unusual eyes would have stunned her friend into place. 

"It's not fair! I'm not a child anymore, he can trust me with pack information. It's not like I'm going to run off with it and tell someone." 

Crossing her arms over her chest, Ivory huffed again and turned her attention from Maki to some random object in the distance. More than likely it was another tree that stood within her molten silver gaze, but there was a chance she could have been staring in the direction of the festival grounds with a burning flame within her silver orbs. 

"You kind of are acting like a child right now, huffing and puffing because you didn't get what you wanted." 

Almost instantly, Ivory's gaze snapped back to land directly on Maki. Her silver eyes wide with shock at what her best friend had said about her. Calling her a child because she was expressing exactly how she felt. She didn't see how it was justifiable to call her a child simply because of that. Let alone, it being her best friend who was supposed to support her through thick and thin regardless of what it was. Suddenly, she felt so betrayed by Maki. 

Ivory's face dropped, unamused by her best friend's unbelievable statement. 

"I can't believe you said that." 

Her voice had dulled down, only hurt and disbelief swirling and lacing each one of the words she had spoken. 

Without a second thought, Ivory moved from the tree she was standing next to and walked passed Maki. From the corner of her eyes she could see Maki's own hurt making its way onto her face. It wasn't her intention to hurt her best friend, but after being called a child, it happened without her even trying to. 

As Ivory walked by Maki, she could hear her friend frustratingly stamp her feet on the soft green earth and whine as if she was losing a fight and about to throw a tantrum herself. It was obvious she regretted what had already been said, never intending to start a fight between herself and Ivory. That had always been the last thing that she ever wanted to do in her life. 

"Ivory, wait!" 

Maki begged, moving from her spot and rushing up behind Ivory. Her arms wrapped around her best friend's shoulders, forcing Ivory to stop in her tracks so that she would listen to her. 

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say what I did. Please forgive me? We can go back to the mansion and get ready, forget I said anything, yeah?" 

An exasperated sigh slowly drifted through Ivory's lips, her eyes rolling skyward as if trying to decide whether to forgive Maki or not. Of course, the thought was a no brainer. Maki was her best friend. There were times that they said things they didn't mean to, but they always apologized and admitted to their faults rather quickly. This was no different, she wasn't going to stay mad at Maki. . . she couldn't. 

"You know I can't stay mad at you." 

Ivory began, turning in Maki's arms when her grip loosened enough to allow her to do so. 

"You're like a sister to me and my best friend. Losing you would be like losing a piece of myself." 

Her arms encircled Maki's waist, the girls sharing a long forgiving hug between the two of them. Something that always healed the theoretical scratches they gave each other when fighting. 

As the two girls pulled out of the hug they were sharing, both had a small apologetic smile upon their lips. Maki's held the relief of being forgiven while Ivory's held the happiness and relief of no longer fighting with her best friend. Ivory was thankful the two of them were always so quick to apologize and make up for their fighting. She only wished that they never had to fight in the first place, it hurt too much and upset the both of them no matter who was right or wrong. 

"Come on, let's go get ready before it gets any later. I don't want to miss too much of the festival." 

"Hey, you're the one who went storming around the forest, if it's late that's all on you." 

Maki quipped, giving Ivory a very pointed look. Though, one could see the tease that was dancing within her emerald green eyes. 

A laugh bubbled out of Ivory, nodding at her friends accusation. She knew she was to blame for them being further out from the mansion that evening. She hadn't meant to get so upset with her father, but she definitely felt better now that she let off some steam. 

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I threw a tantrum that possibly could make us late." 

Both girls laughed, Ivory placing an arm around Maki's shoulders. Ivory and Maki turned back towards the mansion, thankful for their good sense of direction within the Ash Woods. If they didn't have that, the two might have gotten lost on their own way back to their own home. That was something neither of them needed after Ivory huffed around in circles earlier. 

**** **** **** ****

Laughter and unending chatter echoed through the nearly empty Ashwood Mansion halls. Anyone still walking the first floor would glance up the stairs in curiosity before shaking their heads and smiling. The same could be said for those traversing the nearly empty hallways upstairs, smiling as they made their way to wherever their destination may be. No one was bothered by the joyful noises radiating from a single upstairs bedroom. In fact, anyone still in the mansion welcomed the laughter. 

Especially tonight of all nights. 

"Hold still will you, I have one more and then I'm done." 

Maki laughed softly as she tried to pin the final blue flower into Ivory's golden waves of hair. Blues, pinks and purples created a perfect crown of wildflowers within Ivory's hair. It finished off the simplistic look she was going for that evening, it was also the opposite of Maki's attire that evening. It made Maki look as if she were trying to catch someone's attention. 

Wearing a sleeveless white halter dress, the hem stopping just high enough to cover anything that could be deemed inappropriate. Even so, it left very little for the imagination to come up with and one good wind would make any male howl with excitement. The flowing dress was paired with matching white strappy sandals and golden jewelry. Maki's hair was done up in tight curls that had been pinned to the top of her head in a poofy bun. A few loose tendrils hung down, framing her face beautifully. 

She had definitely dressed to impress. 

Meanwhile, Ivory wore a long flowing, chiffon dress along with matching white flats. Two small locks of hair from either side of her head had been pulled back into a partial ponytail. Flowers were pinned around her head like a floral crown that a princess had been deemed to wear at the ball. To finish it off, she wore her mother's blood diamond necklace. A single chunk of the crimson gem wrapped intricately in golden wiring. To match the colored flowers in her hair, multi-colored bangles were adorned on both wrists. In Maki's eyes, she was probably the personification of innocence and purity, looking like an angle descended from heaven. To herself, she looked presentable and decent for the night ahead. 

"All done." 

Ivory was relieved when Maki finished with her hair. Her head felt much like a pin cushion from being poked so often and sore from the way her hair was tugged around so roughly. It was like her best friend had been trying to scalp her with the brush and comb the whole time. 

Hopping up from the soft cushioned vanity seat, Ivory spun around to face Maki. Her dress billowed out around her like a flower of chiffon fabric. Her eyes landed on her glammed up friend a soft smile formed upon her pink glossed lips. It would be hard to deny, but Ivory was excited for the evening to come. She had a feeling it was going to be exciting and that mysterious things were bound to happen. 

"Read?" 

The excitement rang within Ivory's musical voice, forcing a giggle to bubble out of Maki.  

"Of course, what about you?" 

"Totally, you couldn't tell?" 

Maki cleared her throat, playfully turning her attention to the wall on her right. Her lips tugged up on one side in a cheeky little grin as she decided to play dumb to Ivory's question. 

"No, really? I couldn't tell. I thought you were on a caffeine kick again." 

A laugh from Ivory followed Maki's sarcastically playful comment. She reached out, gently pushing against her best friend's shoulder gaining an echoed laugh from her. 

"Shut up, that was a one time thing." 

"Uh-huh, right~." 

Chuckling under her breath, Maki motioned for Ivory to follow her so they could finally start heading to the festival. It was bad enough that the festival had already began and they had yet to arrive. Ivory could only imagine the worry her father was feeling and the lecture she would gain when the did arrive to the festival grounds for the second time that evening. 

With smiles on their faces and excitements in their hearts, the two girls ran out of Ivory's room and down the flight of stairs. Ivory's left hand was tightly clasped within Maki's right hand, trailing behind her taller friend while being pulled along. The duo was more than ready to join the pack and the festivities that would last the night. 

Their feet had barely touched the hardwood flooring in the foyer before they sprinted out the front door and into the cooling night air. 

As Ivory and Maki disappeared into the darkness, music from the festival grounds instantly reached their ears. Laughter and singing filled the air, echoing around Ash Woods for all to hear. The scent of freshly cooked food drenched the girls in what could have been the most appetizing aromas either of them had smelled in their lives. 

"Hey, slow down a bit. The celebration is going to last all night, you're going to make me fall." 

A breathless laugh bubbled out of Ivory, her eyes darting to the back of Maki's head, down to her feet and back up. She didn't want to trip over her lengthy dress, but she did want to get the festival without ending up winded or tired. She wanted to have the energy to have fun, dance around the bonfire and talk with those in the pack that had made it to the festival. She didn't want to drop within the first few minutes because her best friend was in rush to get there. Especially when she herself had an important role to play in the festival, she couldn't be exhausted and look disheveled, she needed to be prepared so she didn't disappoint anyone. 

"Ivory~." 

She almost laughed at Maki's whine, the two of them slowing to a walk. Ivory flinched slightly when Maki rounded on her with a huff. She rolled her eyes and pinned her friend with a gentle smile, hoping it would calm Maki down somewhat before she really let her have it. 

"Look, we are already less than five minutes from the festival grounds, I think we can walk the rest of the way. Plus, I want as much energy as possible to last the entire night, not just the first couple of hours." 

"You're being a real Debbie Downer right now, ruining the excitement of the night. Are you really a wolf or not?" 

"Yes. . ." 

A breathy sigh escaped from Ivory when answering Maki. She knew her friend was excited, so was she, but that didn't mean she had to go overboard getting there. 

"Then you have plent. . ." 

"You girls are running a bit late to the festival, aren't you?" 

Both Ivory and Maki gasped, anything going to be said had been swallowed down and trapped deep within their chests. The girl's eyes roamed the dark shadows of the trees surrounding them, searching for the owner of the voice addressing them. Both girls hugged onto one another as if their very arms would protect them from the person hiding from them. 

Getting some courage, Ivory let her silver orbs dart around while she forced her shakey words from deep within her: 

"Wh. . . who's there?"